Hayley - Red Whisky Girl: Interviewed
Meet Hayley, also known as Red Whisky Girl, a passionate person who exudes a deep love for all things whisky.
We already follow each other on Instagram and are part of a fantastic group of whisky aficionados, but for those who don't know you. Could you please tell them a little bit about what you do, and how you became a whisky influencer and reviewer?
Ah, Whisky Influencer? No way, Whisky enthusiast? Definitely. I do understand why some use the terms, but it still makes me cringe inside. I started my online journey to be part of something & to learn. Every positive experience since I joined, stems from the fantastic people online and everyone who wants to enjoy & share whisky.
In real life, Hayley is a Private Family Nanny, and I couldn’t get further away from whisky in my day job. Unfortunately, my time and energy for Red Whisky Girl the time has slipped dramatically but what I apply what I have learnt, not all drams have to be shared online and enthusiasm for whisky, over knowledge, counts for everything.
Can you describe your first whisky experience and how your journey began?
Poetically, my whisky journey started in Edinburgh with Glenfiddich, Solera Reserva 15 years. The first sip was neat from the bottle – incredibly classy – and I slowly learned to take less and less water with a pour in a glass. You may say, I trained my tastebuds to like whisky! Ultimately my gateway whisky will always have a place in my heart even if my whisky tastebuds have a life of their own now. I never thought I would drink Octomore or Laphroaig neat, but here we are.
You do frequent chats on Instagram you call 'Open Malt Nights', which have become quite popular. I'm curious what your thought process behind this was, and what you hope to gain from it?
There is a strength in doing the chats with a friend, Torie & I can bounce off each other and we both bring something new to the table. We wanted to do more than just post pictures and provide a space for chat and enjoyment, not a place to just listen. They became quite popular, and people have been asking when they will return but our real-life situations take paramount. Hopefully we can arrange something in the future.
Can you tell me about your best distillery experience?
My distillery experiences are limited! I only started to try whisky in 2018 around the time I went to the ‘old style’ Glenkinchie and then I moved to Germany and lockdown happened! I spent a month in Edinburgh this year and I still didn’t visit one distillery due to logistics and expenses. Let’s me frank, Whisky as a hobby is expensive and I think distillery trips, for those of us not in Scotland or the UK, can be a costly holiday, especially with those tempting distillery releases one just must have.
How difficult is it to follow new trends and create interesting whisky posts that will still be relevant past 2022/23?
Instagram sucks. No, it really does! It is an utter mind field, and it seems you can only grow if you provide reel tutorials and tell people how to use Instagram. When I started Instagram in 2019, it was a niche, but the whisky community is now extremely vast, albeit, small in comparison to other communities and there are an increasing number of new collectors, drinkers and enthusiasts posting and sharing. This in whole is marvellous but a headache for brands and PR companies to identify “real” whisky drinkers with genuine engagement and not bought followers. My message to anyone just joining a social media platform would be, don’t chase followers or likes, genuinely engage, and learn and be here for your passion not for gain.
Do you have any concerns with bottle collectors, or would you rather the whisky be drunk rather than gathering dust on a shelf? Could you please express your thoughts on this?
No real concerns, yes it pushes prices up and brands will always seek to make money, however I believe, each to their own and it is up to the buyer what they do with their bottles. Nevertheless, I do get the ‘ick’ about accounts who buy luxury bottles and post the unboxing but never share tasting notes or open them. I return to the point of Whisky being expensive and social media can boast about bottles not accessible to the majority. Let’s enjoy and celebrate the whiskies many of us can afford and enjoy in our own homes.
Can you elaborate the importance of whisky to you and maybe detail some of the relationships you have with your followers?
My situation has been different to many because I joined Instagram as an expat with little community, therefore Instagram became my community and friendship domain. I have fellow Instagram users I call “friends” and I know I can contact who would support and help me if needed. Additionally, I have online friends who will check in on me when my online presence is quiet, my followers and online friends are just tremendous!
There's still a concerning amount of sexism in the whisky community. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Oooo still a subject I am cautious to write about and yes, I have thoughts, some may be controversial so I will refrain.
Fortunately, I have no terrible experiences and have always been treated with respect by those in the community. Yes, there may be an occasional comment which could be interpreted negatively, and I will message said author to discuss or clarify. That said, Sexism does exist, and it is worth remembering sexism is everywhere, not just in the whisky world. I would argue the whisky community may be more inclusive than others.
When you're not posting about spirits, how do you unwind? Do you have any interests that aren't related to alcohol?
Haha, interests not relating to alcohol – I would certainly hope so or some might say I have a problem… but wait, no not really. Uh oh… Whisky is a large part of my life outside work, but not necessarily drinking whisky. I am consciously aware of my drinking habits and predominantly aim to not drink in the week other than an occasional glass of something. I unwind with a bath and book – easy!
